Category Archives: Ireland

We spent a pleasant afternoon in Crosshaven today. It was mild enough to actually enjoy a walk up towards the fort on the hill. As I walked past the merries I spotted this plaque. It must have been hidden every other time as I don’t remember it ever being there. The inscription reads:

OUR GRATITUDE TO
Mr Jack Bergin of Pipers Amusements
Who painted and kept this place clean
for 50 years
Crosshaven Tourism Tidy Towns Aug 1988

I guess he retired 21 years ago. I went searching and unfortunately he passed away in the year 2000.

I was sorry to hear that Jack Bergin had died this week. Another link with Pipers in Douglas and Crosshaven is gone. Everybody who ever went on the swinging boats in the “Merries” will remember Jack, with his powerful shoulders he brought the boats to a gentle stop. The brake was a long piece of timber, which he raised under the boat, thereby stopping its movement. I’m told many years ago, perhaps 75 or so, a young boy walked into Pipers in Croshaven looking for work, and for the rest of his working life he became a part of the Piper family. Every springtime he would paint the wall at the entrance and tend the flowers there. Years ago a plaque was erected at the wall in honour of his dedication to the upkeep of the site. My wife summed up Jack Bergin when she heard he had died “he was a gentle man on the boats slowing it down very gently, and putting his hand out to help women and children out of the swing boats”. What more can I say except “Thanks for the rides and the happy memories Jack” Rest in peace.

Heroes are made of people who do the small things in life.

On a completely unrelated topic, congrats to the Blarney hurling team who beat Galway team Cappataggle today in Croke Park!